BEIJING: China`s football chief has said now is the "best time" for the country -- still trying to bounce back from a graft scandal that rocked the sport -- to launch a bid for the World Cup in 2026.

"It really moved us to see all the social benefits South Africa got from hosting the World Cup," Wei Di, head of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), told the nation`s leading sports newspaper Titan Sports.

"The CFA is preparing to ask the General Administration of Sport to bid for the 2026 World Cup," he was quoted as saying.

"Everyone has been debating whether China should bid for the World Cup or when to bid, but seeing how successfully South Africa hosted it, I have to say that China has no reason not to bid and now is the best time," Wei said.

China`s hosting of the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 had given the nation more confidence, he said. The southern city of Guangzhou will host the Asian Games in November.

The country`s football establishment has been rattled by a far-reaching, damaging corruption scandal, which some observers have said has damaged its hopes of bidding for the World Cup.

Accusations of match-fixing, gambling and crooked referees have swirled in China since it set up professional leagues in the 1990s.

But it was only in late 2006 that a joint police and judicial task force was formed to investigate the allegations.

In February, former CFA chief Nan Yong and two of his top lieutenants were arrested for bribery and match-fixing.

And scores of football officials, club managers and referees have disappeared into police custody as authorities and the CFA try to clean up the sport.

China did not qualify for this year`s World Cup in South Africa. Its only appearance in football`s global showcase came in 2002.

The bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups is currently under way, and the winners will be announced by the sport`s governing body FIFA in December.

BDST: 1456hrs, July 16, 2010